Contact UsEarly career researchers are about to transition - or have recently moved - to fully independent positions as investigators, faculty members, clinician scientists, or scientific team leaders in industry. Early career researchers focus on establishing themselves as the experts in their chosen research areas. See also: New and Early Stage Investigator Policies.
Early Research Career Development
You apply for Individual Awards:
International Research Fellowships
To provide collaborative research opportunities for qualified foreign scientists who hold a doctoral degree or its equivalent in the biomedical or behavioral sciences.
Details No Funding Opportunity Announcement Currently AvailableMentored Research Scientist Career Development Award
For support of a postdoctoral or early career research scientists committed to research, in need of both advanced research training and additional experience.
Details- Mentored Research Scientist Development Award (Parent K01 Independent Basic Experimental Studies with Humans Required)
- Mentored Research Scientist Development Award (Parent K01 -Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
- Mentored Research Scientist Development Award (Parent K01 - Clinical Trial Required)
- NCI Mentored Research Scientist Development Award to Promote Diversity (Parent K01 - Clinical Trial Required)
- NLM Career Development Award in Biomedical Informatics and Data Science (K01)
- AHRQ Mentored Research Scientist Research Career Development Award (K01)
- NIDCR Mentored Career Development Award to Promote Diversity in the Dental, Oral and Craniofacial Research Workforce (K01)
- Transition to Independent Environmental Health Research (TIEHR) Career Transition Award (K01 Clinical Trial Required)
- Transition to Independent Environmental Health Research (TIEHR) Career Transition Award (K01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
- NIDCR Mentored Career Development Award to Promote Diversity in the Dental, Oral and Craniofacial Research Workforce (K01-Clinical Trial Required)
- NCI Mentored Research Scientist Development Award to Promote Diversity (K01 -Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
- NIDDK Mentored Research Scientist Development Award (K01-Clinical Trial Required)
- NIDDK Mentored Research Scientist Development Award (K01-No Independent Clinical Trials)
- NINDS Faculty Development Award to Promote Diversity in Neuroscience Research (K01) - Clinical Trial Not Allowed
- NINDS Faculty Development Award to Promote Diversity in Neuroscience Research (K01) - Clinical Trial Required
- International Research Scientist Development Award (IRSDA) (K01) - Independent Clinical Trial Required
- International Research Scientist Development Award (IRSDA) (K01) - Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed
- NIDCD Mentored Career Development Award for Postdoctorate Au.D./Ph.D. Audiologists (K01 Clinical Trial Required)
- NIDCD Mentored Career Development Award for Postdoctorate Au.D./Ph.D. Audiologists (K01 - No Independent Clinical Trials)
- NINDS Postdoctoral Mentored Career Development Award (K01 Clinical Trial Required)
- NINDS Postdoctoral Mentored Career Development Award (K01 No Independent Clinical Trial Allowed)
- Mentored Research Scientist Career Development Award in Tobacco Regulatory Research (K01 - Independent Clinical Trial Required)
- Mentored Research Scientist Career Development Award in Tobacco Regulatory Research (K01 - Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
- K01 Mentored Research Scientist Development Award
- Mentored Career Development Award to Promote Faculty Diversity in Biomedical Research (K01 Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
- Mentored Career Development Award to Promote Faculty Diversity in Biomedical Research (K01 Independent Clinical Trial Required)
Independent Research Scientist Development Award
For support of an early to mid-career scientists with research funding, in need of additional protected time committed to research.
DetailsAcademic Career Development Award
To support either a mentored or independent investigator to develop or enhance curricula, foster academic career development of promising young teacher-investigators, and to strengthen existing teaching programs.
DetailsMentored Clinical Scientist Research Career Development Award
To provide the opportunity for promising clinician scientists with demonstrated aptitude to develop into independent investigators, or for faculty members to pursue research, and aid in filling the academic faculty gap in health profession's institutions.
Details- Mentored Clinical Scientist Research Career Development Award (Parent K08 Independent Basic Experimental Studies with Humans Required)
- Mentored Clinical Scientist Research Career Development Award (Parent K08 - Independent Clinical Trial Required)
- Mentored Clinical Scientist Research Career Development Award (Parent K08 - No Independent Clinical Trials)
- AHRQ Mentored Clinical Scientist Research Career Development Award (K08)
- NCI Mentored Clinical Scientist Research Career Development Award to Promote Diversity (K08 - Clinical Trials Required)
- NCI Mentored Clinical Scientist Research Career Development Award to Promote Diversity (K08 - No Independent Clinical Trials)
To provide support to outstanding newly trained basic or clinical investigators to develop their independent research skills through a two phase program; an initial mentored research experience, followed by a period of independent research.
Details- NIDCR Dentist Scientist Career Transition Award for Intramural Investigators (K22)
- NIAID Career Transition Award (K22)
- NIDCR Dentist Scientist Career Transition Award for Intramural Investigators (K22-Clinical Trial Required)
- NCI Transition Career Development Award to Promote Diversity (K22 Clinical Trial Required)
- NCI Transition Career Development Award to Promote Diversity (K22 - No Clinical Trials)
- NINDS Advanced Postdoctoral Career Transition Award to Promote Diversity in Neuroscience Research (K22) - Clinical Trial Not Allowed
- NINDS Advanced Postdoctoral Career Transition Award to Promote Diversity in Neuroscience Research (K22) - Clinical Trial Required
- The NCI Transition Career Development Award (K22 - Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
- The NCI Transition Career Development Award (K22 Independent Clinical Trial Required)
- Mentored Career Transition Award for Intramural Fellows (K22 Clinical Trials Required)
- Mentored Career Transition Award for Intramural Fellows (K22 Clinical Trials Not Allowed)
- Career Transition Award for NINDS Intramural Clinician-Scientists (K22 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
- Career Transition Award for NINDS Intramural Clinician-Scientists (K22) - Clinical Trial Required
- NIMH Career Transition Award for Tenure-Track Intramural Investigators (K22 No Independent Clinical Trials)
- NHLBI Career Transition Award for Intramural Postdoctoral Fellows and Research Trainees (K22 Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
- NHLBI Career Transition Award for Intramural Postdoctoral Fellows and Research Trainees (K22 Clinical Trial Required)
Mentored Patient-Oriented Research Career Development Award
To provide support for the career development of clinically trained professionals who have made a commitment to patient-oriented research, and who have the potential to develop into productive, clinical investigators.
Details- Mentored Patient-Oriented Research Career Development Award (Parent K23 Independent Basic Experimental Studies with Humans Required)
- Mentored Patient-Oriented Research Career Development Award (Parent K23 - Clinical Trial Required)
- Mentored Patient-Oriented Research Career Development Award (Parent K23 - Independent Clinical Trials Not Allowed)
Mentored Quantitative Research Career Development Award
To support the career development of investigators with quantitative scientific and engineering backgrounds outside of biology or medicine who have made a commitment to focus their research endeavors on basic or clinical biomedical research.
Details- Mentored Quantitative Research Development Award (Parent K25 Independent Basic Experimental Studies with Humans Required)
- Mentored Quantitative Research Development Award (Parent K25 - No Independent Clinical Trials)
- Mentored Quantitative Research Development Award (Parent K25 - Clinical Trial Required)
To provide research support and protected time to a junior scientist with a faculty position at an LMIC institution leading to an independently funded research career.
DetailsEmerging Leaders Career Development Award
To advance the development of physician-scientists prepared to take an active role in addressing present and future challenges of a global biomedical research enterprise.
DetailsTo support both an initial mentored research experience (K99) followed by independent research (R00) for highly qualified, postdoctoral researchers, to secure an independent research position. Award recipients are expected to compete successfully for independent R01 support during the R00 phase.
Details- NIH Pathway to Independence Award (Parent K99/R00 Independent Basic Experimental Studies with Humans Required
- NIH Pathway to Independence Award (Parent K99/R00 - Clinical Trial Required)
- NIH Pathway to Independence Award (Parent K99/R00 - Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
- NIDCR Dual Degree Dentist Scientist Pathway to Independence Award (K99/R00 - Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
- NIAID Physician-Scientist Pathway to Independence Award (K99/R00)
- NIDCR Dual Degree Dentist Scientist Pathway to Independence Award (K99/R00-Clinical Trial Required)
- NIAID Physician-Scientist Pathway to Independence Award (K99/R00 Clinical Trial Required)
- Pathway to Independence Award in Tobacco Regulatory Research (K99/R00 - Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
- Pathway to Independence Award in Tobacco Regulatory Research (K99/R00 - Independent Clinical Trial Required)
- BRAIN Initiative Advanced Postdoctoral Career Transition Award to Promote Diversity (K99/R00 Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
- BRAIN Initiative Advanced Postdoctoral Career Transition Award to Promote Diversity (K99/R00 Clinical Trial Required)
NIH Director’s New Innovator Award
To support highly innovative research projects by early stage investigators in all areas of biomedical and behavioral research.
DetailsYou apply for Loan Repayment Programs:
Become an appointee on Institutional Awards:
For support to develop and/or implement a program as it relates to a category in one or more of the areas of education, information, training, technical assistance, coordination, or evaluation.
Details- Initiative to Maximize Research Education in Genomics: Courses for Skills Development (R25)
- Initiative to Maximize Research Education in Genomics: Diversity Action Plan (R25)
- Postbaccalaureate Research Education Program (PREP) (R25)
- National Cancer Institute Youth Enjoy Science Research Education Program (R25)
- Innovative Programs to Enhance Research Training (IPERT) (R25)
- NIMH Short Courses for Mental Health-Related Research Education (R25)
- NIMH Research Education Programs for Psychiatry Residents (R25)
- NIMH Mentoring Networks for Mental Health Research Education (R25)
- Enhancing Science, Technology, EnginEering, and Math Educational Diversity (ESTEEMED) Research Education Experiences (R25)
- NIA MSTEM: Advancing Diversity in Aging Research through Undergraduate Education (R25)
- NINDS Neuroscience Development for Advancing the Careers of a Diverse Research Workforce (R25)
- NIAID Research Education Program (R25)
- NIMH Research Education Mentoring Programs for HIV/AIDS Researchers (R25)
- NIH Science Education Partnership Award (SEPA) (R25)
- NINDS Research Education Programs for Residents and Fellows in Neurological Disorders and Stroke (R25 - Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
- NICHD Research Education Programs (R25 Clinical Trial Optional)
- Cancer Research Education Grants Program - Research Experiences (R25)
- Cancer Research Education Grants Program - Courses for Skills Development (R25)
- Cancer Research Education Grants Program - Curriculum or Methods Development (R25)
- Short-Term Research Education Program to Increase Diversity in Health-Related Research (R25 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
- NINDS Research Education Opportunities (R25 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
- NIH Blueprint Program for Enhancing Neuroscience Diversity through Undergraduate Research Education Experiences (R25)
- Health-professional Education Partnership Initiative (HEPI) (R25 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
Become an appointee on your Supervisor's grant:
Research Supplements to Promote Diversity in Health-Related Research (Admin Supp)
Administrative supplements to currently active NIH research grants to enhance the diversity of the research workforce.
DetailsAdministrative supplements to currently active NIH research grants to support individuals with high potential to re-enter an active research career after a qualifying interruption for family or other responsibilities.
Details